Happy birthday Roe V Wade.

PBS special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q5AgCzPIuA

Roe vs. Wade- celebrating 35 years of heros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50HgZx8VvfY

Jane Roe- pro-life ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_MUUvcvjEg&feature=related

Jane Roe- vote for Anti abortion judges
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTUEeiIXsJA&NR=1

CBS news report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n10mp2qguQ&feature=related

I was wrong- Roe vs. Wade documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kz-s3K7tfA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVfzqPlZz_A&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_wxUUC6VZ4

1970- Roe vs. Wade

Back ground:

Jane Roe got pregnant out of wedlock in the state of texas. At the time abortion was illegal. Roe sued Wade, the district attorney of Dallas, to challenge the illegality of abortion. She sued on the grounds that the outlaw of abortion violated her 14th Amendment rights to equal protection and personal liberty.

Roe also claimed that her right to privacy as a mother, as guaranteed in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendments, was being violated.

The state of Texas argued that a child's right to life trumped a mother's right to privacy.

Passage through the Courts:

The case went to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. A 3 judge panel ruled that the Roe's rights were, in fact, violated; however, they refused to issue an injunction that would prevent the enforcement of the anti-abortion laws.

The case then passed on to the Supreme Court. It was granted certiorari, and the court heard the case twice, first on December 13, 1971 and again on October 11, 1972.

The case proceeded along customary lines. The oral arguments can be heard at http://www.oyez.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_18

The court went into conferences, and finally delivered their decision on Januaryn 22, 1973. It was a 7-2 majority.

The Ruling:

1. A woman may have an abortion during her first trimester of pregnancy without any interference from the state.

2. During the second trimester of pregnancy, states may regulate but not eliminate the possibility of abortion.

3. During the third trimester of pregnancy, the state may regulate or forbid abortions except when an abortion would save the life of the mother.

Landmark Case?

Roe v. Wade re-evaluated the idea of privacy and finally set limits for the state's control over abortion. It reaffirmed a person's right to protection and privacy for their own body.

The case caused a stir at the time, and we are still feeling the ripples. 42 Amicus curiae briefs were issued in favor of Roe. These were sent by organizations like the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and Planned Parenthood.

Amicus Curiae briefs were also sent in favor of Wade. To see the brief sent by the Catholic Church go to...http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/abortion.aspx